Kandu-Arts

Ed chats to a very interesting individual who goes by the name of Toshi Parsons! They touch upon many different wellbeing and health-related subjects, with a sprinkle of politics, and also looking back on lockdown and it’s consequences. Toshi shares about her intriguing work as a stillness teacher that works primarily in schools, and the methods she uses. Please if you have any questions for her, write them in the comments and we will do a Q&A. Thank you Ed and Toshi for sharing this unique conversation with us/the world.

Thank you for listening and please come to our Kandu Arts performances on: Lacock on the 12th August at the George and the Kandu Arts Unlock Reset Festival on the August Bank Holiday Weekend 26/27th in Monkton Park (Pitch and Putt).

Ed meets his old friend and Kandu Arts supporter Melanie C, before her amazing performance on Chalfest, where she was kind enough to invite us to see her. Melanie has been supporting Kandu for the last 23 (out of the 25) years, and has helped us help many people by funding projects that support and raise awareness of the homeless, refugees, children in care, mental health, domestic violence, etc. up and down the country, and internationally. Melanie has donated money from concerts, recorded songs (including in our Kandu Arts studio in Chippenham) and auctioned her own clothes to support us, she is truly a special person with a huge heart. Ed says “I’m very proud to call her my friend”. Viva Melanie!!

Ed visits Bromham and the wonderful, relaxing place that is the “Five Elements Retreat” centre with the lovely Trudi Speirs, a qualified Reiki practitioner and sound healer. She introduces her home/workspace to us and tells us more about the relaxation healing packages she offers. Please feel free to contact her if there’s anything she shared that resonates with you, otherwise you will have the opportunity to meet her at our S.H.O.P. very soon.

Ed checks in with a few updates, and we look back on Minety festival with clips from all our Kandu performers. A big thank you to Oz Cahill and his crew from Weston college, for all! And for his amazing footage from our Kandu Arts 25th Anniversary stage, have a look to see how it was at the mighty Minety Festival last weekend! <3

Ed checks in with some fresh photos from our recent 4th annual Kandu Arts Reel Cinema film festival, looking back at some past things that happened and announcing some future things that will happen, with a selection of a few musicians that will be playing at the Kandu Arts 25th Anniversary stage, have a look to see what you can expect on our side of the mighty Minety Festival next weekend <3

Ed chats to Oli, one of the editor’s personal favourite regular guests on our podcast (these two together just crack me up!!), first and foremost about the wonderful music he does and many contributions and collaborations with Kandu, announcing his upcoming gig at Minety. And secondly, we take this opportunity to hilight something that happened the previous week with a grant we wanted to apply for with the town council. Have a look and make your own mind up!

Personal note from the editor: If you live in Chippenham, or in fact any small town, this podcast is for you. It shows the alarming case of anti-democratic practices of some of our elected councillors. It really shook my beliefs in the core values of British society, and raised a fear that my own values like, democracy, freely expressing your opinion, questioning the norm, protecting the vulnerable, providing each individual with equal opportunities, aren’t in line with the core values that our elected town councillors adhere to. It saddens me to think that in the 21st century the youngest and most vulnerable members of society are deprived of the already rare, few and far between opportunities, because of something like this, which seems more like a personal vendetta than a democratic process. Please watch the whole podcast and comment and share.

Ed and Donna check in from the island of Hvar in Croatia, where we have been doing some work with the primary school in Stari Grad - have a look at the podcast to hear their lovely singing. They also recall the Folk Festival (a special “Drijen” clip from their performance at the Angel hotel is included :) and announce the Minety Festival - our next big production helped by the guys from the festival, and celebration of our 25th anniversary. Don’t forget to grab your tickets!

Meet Bob Barry - one of the original directors of the Chippenham Folk Festival, a man who (allegedly) never sleeps, a folkie in his own right and a builder, gardener and all around lovely person. Thanks for sharing some of your insight and lovely memories with us Bob, and we will also add this interview to our documentary about the Folk Festival. As a special treat at the very start of the podcast, watch Drijen perform a traditional Croatian song. You still have a chance to watch them live this evening at the Rotary Hall on Station Hill, so definitely come and join us!

What is the true value of art? How to manage a football manager? What was Ian Holloway’s lowest moment? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this week’s podcast with Kim & Ian Holloway! Two very lovely people we have had the pleasure of not only meeting and interviewing, but also the pleasure of showing the world their extraordinary paintings. Thank you for sharing guys, and to everyone watching - come down to our S.H.O.P. to view their fantastic exhibition while it’s still on (sneak peak included in this video ;)) & please come do & share some of your own art in this community space. And buy Ian’s book of course!!

Ed interviews Dick Stanger, a man who has truly propelled the cultural scene in Chippenham forward, being involved not only in the early (and latter) days of the Chippenham Folk Festival, but in many other local cultural initiatives as well. A performer himself who does Morris dancing among other things, he has wore many different professional hats throughout his life, and we are very fortunate and privileged to have him share his vast experience with us. Thank you Dick, and many thanks for sharing with us your archive photos, which we have used in this years Folk Festival 50th anniversary promo video as well, that we made for it, because we wanted to do our bit to support them.

Thank you for watching and please come to our Kandu Arts performances on: this years Chippenham Folk Festival (26-29th May) including “The Folk on the Fringe” stage in the Rotary Hall, Minety Festival where we have our very own 25th Anniversary Stage (29th June - 2nd July) and the Kandu Arts Unlock Reset Festival on the August Bank Holiday Weekend in Monkton Park (Pitch and Putt).

Come visit us at our S.H.O.P. in Emery Gate in Chippenham. Thank you to everyone already involved. Stay tuned for our future events, fundraisers and much more.

Please keep watching and keep contacting us to be on the show, since we firmly believe in bringing media back to the people and our community.

Get inspired and get involved, watch, like, share, comment, everyone is welcome. If you would like to be featured with an interview, and/or some of your art, cooking, gardening, mindfulness, mental health support, life hacks or anything at all you think you would be of interest or positive support to someone else in these trialing times, please e-mail us on [email protected], and we will gladly share your ideas and work. If you are interested in buying any of our products, or art, and support our work in that way, drop us a line as well. Thank you for watching and all the wonderful feedback.